Rejecting the derogatory term "Gringos" and the accusatory epithet "Yanquis," Cubans prefer to refer to us, their North American neighbors, as "Yumas." This blog is simply one Yuma's way of sharing his thoughts on all things Cuban, a subject that often generates more heat than light.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Today, Luis Eligio D'Omni & Amaury Pacheco, two members of Omni-ZonaFranca paid me a visit in my office at Baruch College. Completely by chance, their visit coincided with that of Enny Pichardo, a reporter from NTN24, who had come to interview me about the Pope's visit to Cuba.

Although he had come to get a sound-byte from me, he asked to interview Luis Eligio and Amaury also, who were more than happy to oblige. As you can see from the clips I made with my iPhone below, his exchanges with them were much more fruitful and powerful than anything I could say.

My commentary came primarily from the head, while theirs came as much from the heart as the head - y sin pelos en la lengua.

Each of the two quick, 8-minute interviews is quite moving and shows the valiance and intelligence that make Omni so fascinating and unique. Just imagine, Cubans talking of Gandhi and St. Francis of Assisi, instead of politics and nationalism!

For NTN 24's version of the interviews with brief clips of each of us, see here.

Luis Eligio (This video now has English subtitles).

Amaury (with English subtitles too)

I'd also like to point your attention (if you read Spanish) to a penetrating interview that the Cuban-American academic and musician, Maria Isabel Alfonso, did with Amaury Pacheco. Alfonso attended their first show in NYC last Friday at Baruch and also wrote a short review that introduces the interview. She really captures their gracious spirit and unique, open-hearted approach to Cuba's dilemma.

Finally, OMNI will be at NYU's Kimmel Center (Room 802), part of the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS), today, Wednesday, March 28, from 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. (60 Washington Square South) presenting yet another variation on their show, "Mákina Total City," this time co-sponsired by NYU's Cuban American Student Association.

They will also be a NuBlu with DelExilio this Thursday night @ 9:00 p.m.